It was a retro blast-to-the-past evening with the Moody Blues opening the summer season at the Hollywood Bowl.
The night started out with a hectic cocktail party on the upper terrace, but through all the confusion, Malibu Seen got a chance to reconnect.
Thirty years ago, ABCs Adrienne Alpert and NBCs Kim Devore spent a summer in the then-Soviet Union covering Gorbachev and Glasnost.
We have both been through a lot since our cub reporter days in San Diego. Eventually, we both landed in LA.
She is a longtime reporter and host at KABC Channel Seven. I jumped into producing shows for Discovery Network and The Travel Channel, as well as 20 years as a columnist for The Malibu Times.
After a bit of reminiscing, it was show time.
Edgy director Quentin Tarantino of “Pulp Fiction” fame beat us to our boxes. He’s apparently a big Moody Blues fan (who knew?).
We all enjoyed a tasty gourmet dinner with a Moroccan flair. The chicken tagine feast was served on linen tablecloths topped with centerpieces of fresh rosemary, basil and lavender.
After a star spangled opening, principal conductor Thomas Wilkins took the stage and introduced some very talented young artists sponsored by the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
The bowl has been on an opening night roll with acts in recent years that included Steely Dan and Journey.
After a brief intermission, it was time for the main event.
The Moody Blues gave you the feeling of going back in time, with vets Justin Hayward and John Lodge rocking the crowd.
The performance featured three members from the band’s ‘60s heyday.
This year marks 50 years of “Days of Future Passed.”
The LP (yes, LP!) included the hits “Nights in White Satin” and “Tuesday Afternoon.” They were both considered milestones in rock.
The set also featured a full rendition of “Days of Future Past,” which the band played for the first time live with a full orchestra. Soon, the Bic lighters came out as the wide screen aired clips of opening nights past with artists like BB King, Stevie Wonder and Carlos Santana. There were images from the era and a psychedelic backdrop that made you feel like you were right out of Woodstock.
It was all backed up with the Blues’ legendary lyrics like “Nights in White satin never reaching the end. Letters I’ve written never meaning to send. Some try to tell me thoughts, they cannot defend. Just what you want to be you will be in the end.”
It was a far-out fling with an entire summer of unforgettable performances to look forward to. Rock on!
And, Yo Adrienne! Thanks for the memory.
